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Kuekkong Bupphawan, the son of disappeared political activist Chatchan Bupphawan, or Phuchana, told Prachatai that he and his mother went to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police Hospital yesterday (22 January 2019) to testify on the case of Phuchana’s disappearance and supposed murder, and to receive the autopsy and DNA test results for one of the mutilated bodies found in the Mekhong River, now confirmed to be that of Phuchana.

On 21 January 2019, the son of disappeared activist Phuchana (pseudonym), who prefers to remain anonymous, told Prachatai that the DNA result for one of the mutilated bodies found on the banks of the Mekhong River near Nakhon Phanom confirms that the body is genetically related to him.

On 23 Dec 2018, Facebook user Romchalee Sinseubpol, a refugee living in a neighbouring country, published a post saying that Surachai Danwattananusorn (Surachai Saedan), a 75-year-old political activist who fled Thailand after the May 2014 coup, had disappeared from his residence along with 2 other refugees he had been staying with. The last time he made contact through phone calls was on 12 Dec 2018.

December 11, 2018. According to a relative, Mrs. Jinda Santiparapop, the Thai military has arrested Mrs. Laddawan Chewasut(age 62) and Mr. Suthawat Chewasut(age 31), the wife and son of Mr. Chucheap Chewasut or ‘Uncle Sanamluang’, the underground radio broadcaster who currently is living in exile.

Pavin Chachavalpongpun has been known as a fierce critic of the Thai Army since before Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha staged the coup d’état in May 2014. After the coup, he continued to criticize the junta leader in his mischievous and acerbic manner on his Facebook page, but also in frank and serious articles and interviews. Gen Prayut got so irritated that he called Pavin “a jerk” (คนเฮงซวย in Thai.)

The veteran politician, closed-aid to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra has lived in self-imposed exile for 6 years. In Part 2 of the interview, Jakrapob Penkair discussed the alleged violence of the red-shirt movement and prospect of Thai politics after the coup.

Although Jakrapob Penkair may have disappeared from the Thai political scene many years ago, his name still resounds. This confirms his status as a 'political man' whose latest achievement is to co-found 'Seri Thai'--an organisation whose mandate is to fight the junta’s National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) from outside the country. It is the task which has prompted another round of surveillance on him by the authorities.
Jakrapob has led a life of a great variety.

Since 2006, Thailand has been plagued with an unending storm of political conflict. Political thought is divided on nearly every single issue; from former Prime Minister Thaksin’s reign, the monarchical institution, nation development, democracy, elections, reform, politicians, political parties and so forth. The 22 May 2014 coup has exacerbated Thailand’s political situation. Activists, politicians, and even ordinary citizens branded as “ideologically hardcore” were left with no choice but to flee the country in self-imposed exile.